"Clifford Geertz is a central figure in the humanities in the last half century, whose work has transformed anthropology and social science in general. His interpretive turn has made it possible to grasp the particular, changing constellations of meaning which constitute human societies, and are often masked in the explanatory systems and over-arching generalizations of traditional social science. This work is of greater relevance than ever today, when very diverse societies are drawn ever tighter together, often in mutual incomprehension and conflict. This fascinating book, a conversation between Geertz and colleagues from different disciplines, draws out these and other implications of his remarkable corpus of work."

Charles Taylor | Charles Taylor

"Geertz’s combination of great philosophical sophistication with an artist’s eye for the significant little detail has made him one of the most influential intellectuals of recent times. This collection of essays will give the reader a good sense of his impact on a variety of academic disciplines."

Richard Rorty | Richard Rorty

"We should be grateful that Clifford Geertz chose anthropology. Described as the single most influential anthropologist of recent times, he resisted reductionism and chose meaning-centred analysis. Clifford Geertz by His Colleagues is a great twist on the Festschrift: here, the tributes to him receive a reply from him."

Maggie McDonald | New Scientist